Playing With Fire
AN OXFORD TEENAGER who falsely claimed to have been sprayed with petrol and set ablaze by racists has been given a three-month prison sentence.
Oxford Youth Court heard how Chris Barton, 18, in reality burnt himself whilst torching a car he had stolen. He stripped the Rover that he had stolen on April 6 of its CD player and front seats, amongst other parts. He then set it alight, thereby injuring himself.
His claim that he had been set-upon by four white youths in a car was revealed as the sham it was.
In sentencing, Stipendiary Magistrate David Simpson told Barton: "The story not only wasted considerable police time, it undermined the confidence of the community in which you live, in particular those who may be black, Asian or of mixed race."
Barton had previously sold his story to a news agency for £400. He was ordered to pay this sum as compensation to Thames Valley Police - who lauched a large-scale inquiry, fearing that there was a racist gang on the loose.
A police spokesman said they had dealt with Barton's claims with great urgency. "The police will always treat such allegations seriously," he said. But the inevitable consequence of that is the occasional case such as this.
12th Oct 2000